M6

M6 is a general-interest television channel, whose main shareholder is the RTL group. In 2006, M6’s turnover was €1.283 billion, an increase of almost 19% compared with the previous year. This growth is the result of increased viewing figures, Internet activities and distance selling operations. M6 employs almost 1,600 people. Most of the sites are situated in the Paris region. The group has some regional studios.

Challenges of the Mobility Solutions: Improved Communications and Remote Access to Servers

The data processing division of M6 manages three types of roaming personnel: VIPs, sales personnel as well as some IT specialists and consultants. These people have been equipped with 200 portable computers and 100 PDAs, which will increase in number over the next few years. All the devices can be connected to the company’s WiFi network and to the cell networks GPRS, EDGE or 3G. For cell connections, M6 opted for unlimited data packages. The portable computers equip the three types of roaming personnel.

PDAs: Equipment and Usage

- The PDAs equip two types of people: VIPs and IT specialists who need to travel. Originally, M6 had chosen Palm’s Treo devices. When the pool was being renewed, M6 realised that Palm was increasingly using the Windows Mobile operating system. M6 therefore deliberately opted for Windows Mobile, the only OS compatible with the M6 infrastructure as it was. M6 chose HP IPAQ 6915 devices for all the users. This choice will be reviewed as these devices are too complex for the VIPs which need improved ergonomics for simple tasks.

- VIP uses include email applications, Internet navigation and schedule consulting. IT specialists use the PDAs to connect to an application server.

Main Difficulties

The main challenge involves the security of these new access points to the IT system, but also the acceptance of new rules among the people equipped with these devices, in particular the VIPs.

Benefits of the EveryWAN Solution: Transmitted Data Encryption and Improvement of User Support With Full Use of Functions

M6 opted for Sparus during the last quarter of 2006 essentially for two main benefits:

- Improved security and support for users: Remote management of devices with transmitted data encryption is vital for improving assistance to roaming personnel in the event of faults, and to increase security. M6 considers that the prime objective of productivity, efficiency and convenience increase have been achieved. In particular, it has made work easier for the resource dedicated to mobile solutions (approximately one person equivalent to full time) in the team providing user assistance.

- Application tunnelling: M6 also chose EveryWAN for its application tunnelling functions. Up to now, they have not been used, but M6 will benefit fully from this solution from 2008, when it will roll out specialist applications.

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